Hi guys,

Has the popularity of having a dedicated spod/marker dropped recently? It seems a lot less common place these days to see my peers with a rod for each purpose - now it feels like most folk are going down the one rod with a quick change set up to suit either application.

Thoughts?

In reply to Post #1
No real need to carry both around. Use the rod with marker to find the spot, Clip up, the remove the marker and add spod . Plus a spod rod is stiffer so you tend to get better feedback through it while feeling about

In reply to Post #1
Agree with Ian - more stuff to lug and spod rods (or SPM / Spod & Marker rods as they're now frequently branded) are stiffer and better for feature finding anyway. Only time taking two could be useful is constant spodding at different ranges or maybe using a mono / tapered leader set up on one to make the whole debacle more comfortable / easier on the arms . . .(my actual preference if there's a significant amount of bait to apply and you cannot use a boat etc)

I find two marker rods can be very useful, especially when the bottom is up and down.

I always carry my marker rod and always use it.
The spod rod only comes out for certain waters.

I still use a dedicated an older model Century marker rod and Century C2D Spodding Machine. Both seem just right for the job they do to me and I won't change them.

In reply to Post #1
back in my more enthusiastic days I used to use both, carried a whole load of gear 4x 3.25s + spod, marker all with Emblem Z5500as,

Now just the single NG spod rod for both applications, fishing a long but narrow lake it's very easy to spod to a mark on the opposite bank and cast the bait to it.
Had one day recently when I thought about looking for another second hand NG spod rod but it appears that they were updated with the first ring on the tip section right on the joint.
Don't like it, it means tip down storage all the time.

Thoughts on my spooling? I always get conflicted with braid...

LINKY POO™ https://i.postimg.cc/nh3n8k95/20260815-180615.jpg

Also, since I'm going down the quick change, marker/spod route, do I need a leader? Braid or otherwise. I've got 30lb main on the spool now, pictured, but do I need a leader?

In reply to Post #8
Looks a bit overfilled, expect fraps.
You'd be ok without a shockie for short to medium distance but if you are really whanging it then a shockie would be sensible.

In reply to Post #9
Thanks man - how much we talking? 30, 50m?

That spool has about 50m of back mono from memory.

In reply to Post #10
I'd say you want to have at least 1mm of the spool lip showing.
See how that goes.

Slipd's picture of his spool...